Online safety

Experts suggest social media page breaks, post limits, ‘minor mode’ master switch to protect teens

The safeguards will need to address problematic features including infinite scroll and video auto-play, algorithmically-curated feeds, and visible ‘like’ counts.

EU landmark rules for ChatGPT give Singapore the blueprint to rein in AI harms: Experts

The European Union on Aug 31 added the AI chatbot to a list of digital services subjected to the bloc’s toughest rules for online safety.

UNICEF estimates 20 million children suffered online sexual abuse in one year

Roughly 15 million children in the countries surveyed were exposed to unwanted sexual content.

Banning kids from social media is only half a solution

More than 81 per cent of under-16s still used at least one restricted platform after the ban took effect last December.

Measures rolled out in S’pore to keep online users, including teens, safe

Safety features being considered include a daily time limit and restrictions on infinite scroll, auto-play and direct messages from strangers.

Daily time limits on social media among mandatory safeguards considered for teens in S’pore

Upcoming legislative changes to mandate age checks will underpin the mandatory safeguards for teen users.

Facebook, TikTok promoted Colombian armed groups’ content to recruit children: NGO

Human Rights Watch said the circulation of social media content by armed groups “glorifies life in armed group ranks” and promotes “deceptive job offers”.

Govt prepared to raise minimum age beyond 13 for social media platforms with weak safeguards

Social media features that keep users scrolling endlessly are hard enough for adults to resist, and pose even greater risks on teenagers, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

News analysis

It’s time to mandate age checks on AI chatbot users to protect those under 18

Registered users that have been detected by OpenAI’s system to be under 18 will also automatically be classified as a teen account.

New moves tackling social media ads long overdue; will stem scam scourge: Experts

Among a raft of anti-scam measures that the police announced on Aug 18, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have to verify the identities of advertisers on their platforms against government-issued records.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.